Fountain toothbrush



Aug. 22, 1961 w.' GAINER FOUNTAIN TooTHBRUsH Filed oct. 51. 1958 Rf A INVENTOR. GA /NER ATTCI RN EYS nted Stes Patent O 2,997,078 g FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Wade Gainer, Box 57 5, Bridgeport, W. Va. Filed Oct. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 771,065

` 1 Claim. (Cl. 141-383) This invention relates to toothbrushes of the fountain type in which a storage chamber for a dentifrice, such as tooth paste, is provided in ther handle of the toothbrush and wherein the dentifrice is forced ythnough a passage in the head of the toothbrush through the bristles by turning a knob at the end of a handle opposite to that on which the head is positioned.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush having a dentifrice storage compartment in the handle in which a valve is provided between the handle and head of the toothbrush so that the storage compartment may be sealed when not in use.

Various types of fountain toothbrushes have been provided, however, in substantially all instances, the dentifrice provides a sealing means and air leaks through the dentifrice to the storage compartment resulting in dehydration of the dentifrice so that the brush is soon inoperative. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a fountain toothbrush having a storage chamber in the handle in which means is provided for sealing the storage chamber when the brush is not in use.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide sealing means in a fountain toothbrush whereby the sealing means is actuated from the end of the handle so that the sealing means may be rst actuated, and then dentifrice forced by a follower through passages in the head of the brush and wherein after the brush is used the sealing means is actuated to seal the storage compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush in which a dentifrice in a storage compartment in the handle of the brush is readily replenished.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush having a storage compartment in the handle with a passage extending fnom the handle to the head in which dentifrice is placed in the handle by cartridges that are discarded after use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush having a dentifrice storage compartment in the handle and a passage with a valve therein extended from the handle to the head in which the toothbrush is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and Iother objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a tubular handle having a head with bristles extended from one side and with a passage extending through the head to the bristles removably mounted on one end, a screw with a follower thereon extended through the handle and actuated by a knob at the extended end of the handle and a valve positioned to coact with a valve seat on the inner end of the head and having a stem extended through the screw to a button on the outer end whereby the stem is actuated by the button to open and close the valve.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the invention illustrating the fountain toothbrush.

FIGURE 2 is a view illustrating a cartridge for supplying a dentifrice to a compartment in the handle of the toothbrush.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the cartridge showing a disc removed from lone end and a head removably mounted in the opposite end.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section through the handle of the toothbrush with parts of the head broken away.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the head of the toothbrush with parts broken away showing a dentifrice channel or passage extended through the head of the toothbrush and through which a dentifrice passes from a storage chamber in the handle to bristles of the brush.

yFIGURE 6 is a cross section through the handle of the toothbrush showing the follower on the screw or threaded rod in the handle.

FIGURE 7 is a cross section through the knob at the extended end of the handle of the toothbrush taken on line 7--7 of FIGURE 4 showing pins extended through the knob and a sleeve extended from the screw in the handle.

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the handle of the toothbrush illustrating the method of drawing tooth paste from a cartridge into the compartment in the handle of the toothbrush.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved fountain toothbrush of this invention includes a tubular handle 10, a head 11 threaded in one end of the handle, a bushing 12 threaded in the opposite end of the handle, a screw 13 having a follower 14 thereon positioned in the handle and having a sleeve 15 extended through the bushing 12, a knob 16 mounted on the sleeve 1S and secured in position by pins 17 and 18, and a stem 19 having a button 20 on the outer end extended through the sleeve 1S and screw 13 and having a valve 21 secured on the inner end by threads 22 and positioned to coact with a valve seat 23 at the end of a nipple 24 extended from the head 11.

Both ends of the handle 10 are threaded internally having threads 25 in one end in which a threaded section 26 of the head 11 is threaded and threads 2-7 in the opposite end in which the bushing 12 is threaded. The head 11 is provided with a shoulder 28 that is drawn up against the end of the handle and the interior of the head is provided with a passage 29 that extends from the valve seat 23 to a point 30 intermediate of the length of the head and from the point Aa passage 31 extends to the lower surface 32 from which bristles 33 extend.

A bushing 12 in the opposite end sof the handle is provided with a shoulder 34 that engages the end of the handle and the bushing is also provided with a bore 35 through which the sleeve 15 extends. The sleeve 15 and screw 13 are provided with a continuous bore 36 through which the stem 19 extends.

The screw 13 is provided with a collar 37 from which the sleeve 15 extends and the collar is positioned to engage the inner end surface of the bushing 12, as shown in FIG- URE 4. The opposite end of the screw 13 is provided with an externally threaded nipple 38 which, when refilling the reservoir or storage compartment in the handle is threaded into an opening 39 in a head 40 on the end of a tubular cartridge 41, in the opposite end of which is a disc 42. The nipple 38 is threaded in the opening 39 as shown in FIGURE 8 and the inner threaded end of the steam 36 is threaded in a knob 43 extended from the head 40.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described a cartridge 41, having dentifrice therein is positioned in the handle 10 with the nipple 38 of the screw 13 threaded in the opening 39 of the head 40 and as the cartridge 41 is drawn over the head 40 dentifrice, as indicated by the numeral 44 is removed from the cartridge and deposited into the handle 10.

With the cartridge 41 removed and the head` 11 threaded in the end of the handle the button 20 may be pressed inwardly to close the valve or urge the valve element 21 against the seat 23 whereby, with the bushing 12 in position the dentifrice is sealed in the storage compartment or reservoir.

When it is desired to use the toothbrush the button 20 is withdrawn to the position shown in FIGURE 4 there- Patented Aug. 22, 1961 by opening the valve, and the knob 16 is rotated, driving i the follower 14 toward the valve with the result that dentifrice passes through the valve and through the passages 29 and 31 to the bristles of the toothbrush. The toothbrush may be used in a conventional manner and after use the button 20 is pressed inwardly closing the valve and sealing the dentifrice compartment in the handle until use of the toothbrush is again desired.

The follower 14 is provided with a key 45 that travels in an elongated slot 46 in the inner surface of the handle 10 to prevent rotation of the follower with the screw.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a fountain toothbrush, the combination which comprises a tubular handle the ends of which are threaded internally, a bushing threaded in one end of the handle, a screw rotatably mounted in the bushing, a follower on the screw, a knob on the one end of the screw, a head removably connected to the handle, a valve seat in said head, a stem extended from the valve seat through the screw, bushing, and knob, a button on the extended end of the stem, a cartridge having a removable head with a threaded socket therein removably connected to the end of the stem opposite to the extended end thereof and being designed to slide through the handle of the toothbrush with a nipple on the inner end of the screw threaded in the socket of the head whereby the head draws dentifrice from the tubular cartridge into the tubular handle of the toothbrush, and a valve removably connected to the end of said stem after said handle has been lled with dentifrice.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,002,673 Goodwin Sept. 5, 1911 1,099,262 Berger June 9, 1914 1,235,351 McLaughlin July 31, 1917 1,578,922 Sargery Mar. 30, 1926 1,646,531 Floyd Oct. 25, 1927 2,699,889 Johnson Ian. 18, 1955 

